Bruce Boa

Andrew Bruce Boa (10 July 1930 – 17 April 2004) was a Canadian actor, who found success playing the token American in British films and television, usually playing military types. Boa's most notable film role is in The Empire Strikes Back as General Carlist Rieekan. On television, his most notable role is probably as the brash, plain-speaking American guest, Mr. Harry Hamilton, in the Fawlty Towers episode "Waldorf Salad".

Early life Bruce Boa was born on 10 July 1930 in Port Stanley, Ontario, the second of three children of Ila (née Phinn) and Andrew Boa, a clergyman. His older sister was Jungian analyst and author Marion Woodman, and his younger brother was Fraser Boa, also a Jungian analyst, who died in 1992. Boa attended the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 1952 with a degree in theology, then spent a brief period playing professional football for the Calgary Stampeders in 1952.

After travelling through Central America and Europe, he began his acting career in England in 1956 and settled there permanently in the 1960s. In a 1959 interview, when he was aged 29, he said he had also written poetry, a novel and film scripts, and hoped to make a living combining writing and acting.

Career Boa's film credits include Man in the Middle (1964), The Adding Machine (1969), Who? (1973), The Cherry Picker (1974), The Omen (1976), Silver Bears, Superman, Carry On Emmannuelle (1978), A Touch of the Sun, The London Connection, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1979), Silver Dream Racer (1980), Ragtime (1981), Octopussy (1983), Return to Oz (1985), and Screamers (1995). He also played the Marine colonel in Full Metal Jacket (1987) who chastises Matthew Modine's character over having a peace pin on his lapel while having "Born To Kill" written on his combat helmet.

On television, he appeared in Thriller (1975), in 1977 Come Back, Little Sheba, an episode of Laurence Olivier Presents, opposite Laurence Olivier and Joanne Woodward. Other television credits include: Fawlty Towers, The Avengers, Out of the Unknown, The Champions, The Troubleshooters, The Saint, Ace of Wands, Special Branch, The Onedin Line, Z-Cars, The New Avengers, The Professionals, The Omega Factor, Dempsey and Makepeace, Astronauts, Hart to Hart, Remington Steele, Howards' Way, the 1979 miniseries A Man Called Intrepid, the 1988 television film The Bourne Identity, Tales of the Unexpected, As Time Goes By, Road to Avonlea, Kavanagh QC, Bulman and Warship.

Death Boa died from cancer on 17 April 2004 in Surrey, England.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1960 Man in the Moon Roy Film debut 1964 Man in the Middle Major Lawson 1968 The Mini-Affair American Newman 1969 Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? Car Salesman Uncredited The Adding Machine Detective 1970 The Revolutionary Guest at Party 1974 The Cherry Picker Dr. Softman Who? Miller 1976 The Omen Thorn's Aide 1977 Silver Bears American Banker 1978 Carry On Emmannuelle US Ambassador Superman Joint Chief of General Staff Extended Version, Uncredited 1979 The London Connection Colonel Unidentified Flying Oddball Air Force Officer Uncredited A Touch of the Sun Jim Coburn A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square Morgan Stanfield 1980 The Ninth Configuration Sergeant in Combat Shack The Empire Strikes Back General Carlist Rieekan Silver Dream Racer 2nd TV Reporter 1981 Ragtime Jerome 1983 Octopussy General Peterson 1984 Scream for Help Surgeon The Razor's Edge Henry Maturin 1985 Water US Advisor Return to Oz Policeman 1986 The American Way Colonel Parker Ping Pong American Tourist 1987 Full Metal Jacket POGE Colonel 1988 Hawks Byron Deckermensky 1989 Slipstream Guard Supervisor Murder Story Corrigan 1990 The Serpent of Death Bartlet 1991 White Light Clay Avery 1993 For the Moment Mr. Anderson The Neighbor Bishop 1995 Screamers Secretary Green Final film

Television